Looking back at 2008-To do in 2009

[shellrow1972]

Well folks 2008 was a very good year for us. We moved to a new place with ten acres of land in February. Our garden flopped but we did gather plenty of wild black berries and black walnuts for the year. We got a pair of Pekin ducks that are very happy together. We accomplished building our Chicken Condo out of almost 100% free materials. The most we have invested in it is the time and the cost of the chicken wire. It has been a happy and productive year for us.

To Do in 2009

1.) Better garden, we are selecting various seeds (trying mostly for heirloom veggies), companion planting and using a "lasagna garden" method for one area. Our original garden happened to be beside of a Black Walnut tree. I had no idea that so many plants were effected negatively by this tree. I am hoping we will be better organized and that our garden will be more productive this year.
2.) Getting meat rabbits. I am hoping that we will accomplish this before the end of January! I want one buck and two does. Now to get my Fiance on the move building the cages! This is more my project than his...
3.) I would like to read up on bees and get a hive or two going. This is also my project more than his. I love honey and it is so expensive to buy these days. I would like to learn on my own and have my own to use.
4.) Dwarf Nigerian Goats- We both want goats. I want to use the milk for consumption as well as for making soaps.
5.) Feeder pigs in the Spring. We want to get two for the Spring time. I am hoping that goes well.
6.) Planting berry bushes and *fruit trees.

That is our goals for the year of 2009. If we accomplish at least 1/2 of these I will be very happy! ;D

What about everyone else? How was '08 and what will be done in '09?

[madmac]

Stocking up on food, saving as much money as I can and if all goes well, a trip to Mo. to look at a homestead. I will be debt free in 2009, YEAH!!!!!!!!

[pcrowder]

Shellrow: First, I'd like to say WELCOME! You will love it here!

1. 2008 was a year of changes. We got alot more poultry than the previous year (we have turkeys, geese, ducks, and chickens), got 50 black Angus cattle, I got 2 (hopefully preg dairy calves), and 3 more horses. I have more goats than in years past, more pigs than in past years, and am now down to 3 ewes, but no ram (but I'm working on it!).
I incubated out (and order some) more replacement hens for the older ones, and have fortified and now padlocked the hen houses to prevent a repeat of the loss of 50% of our hens due to theft this past year. With the economy worsening, I fear that not only will the poultry be a target, but so will the cattle and also the food from the garden.
2. I canned some in '08, but not nearly as much as I'd wanted. Need to do better this year.
3. Hope to become alot more self-sufficient. We're not doing bad now, but there's always room for improvement.
4. Want a MUCH bigger garden, and am hoping my dairy calves are preg, and that each of them present me with healthy baby. Ditto with the goats in the spring.

3. 2008 financially was good, but with the economic downturn, 50% of our "promised" contracts have simply disappeared. So we will need to find ways to save $$ and will have to cut corners wherever humanly possible.
4. Am hoping that the animals and the garden produce well, and that no one suffers too horribly from what's coming over the horizon. I might not be doing everything I invision, but I'm thankful I don't live in the city any more, and don't live on a postage stamp lot with no way to feed myself!

I wish a VERY Happy (and prosperous) New Year to all!

[MYellowRose]

Setting up a small BOB or BIB (Bug In Bag) and a small food storage program.

[rideaway]

Lets see...
2008: Struggled to survive the chaos from my older sister's stroke, sold my horse because hay is just too expensive, didn't do as much with the garden as I wanted, but was pleased with what I did preserve out of it, daughter made quite a bit of $ at the local 4-H auction, so the pigs and lambs were a success, got more organized, started a refinance which was supposed to close by now and will help us greatly when it does, but due to FHA requirements, hasn't yet, and as I went to leave work this evening, my car wouldn't start, so left it at the office-will worry about it tomorrow!

2009: Want car problem to be minor, want refinance to close, get woodstove installed while it's early enough in year to use it, want to work more on being self-sufficient and pay off as much as possible, try to maintain a "at peace" attitude and get some chickens...

Happy New Year! Even tho I won't make it til midnight.

[gregabob]

2008-Got serious about getting more self-reliant. Had to leave a gal who was just too frightened by the idea. Buckled down at work to make sure I was as valuable to the company as possible. Started to buy silver.
2009-Get house sold and move out of Cali. Buy some land, put a trailer on it and start homesteading. Invest in more gold and silver. Buy a rifle and handgun to go with my shotgun. Start to live the dream..... ;)

[LeatherneckPA]

2008: Dad died, retired from working at the prison, got first flock of chickens, DW fell and broke her elbow yesterday. Chickens produced 229 eggs in December, averaging 7.3 eggs per day. The most common number for the month was 8 eggs per day. Put a dozen roosters in the freezer.

2009: Buy our land! Build temporary housing for me to continue working there. 50 freezer birds. Set fence for goats/pigs scheduled for 2010.

[leera]

Jan 13,2008,made final payment on debt management.What started out four years ago as more than $38K in debts was gone!!

July 5 2008,used "stimulus check" to pay off car.

Now owe less than 4k in debts,will be getting that out of the way as fast as possible.

Plans for 2009:

1)Pay off SSA thing(old debt of hubby's that popped up this year).Putting a quick stop to our house shopping.

2)Buy a house with some land,or just some land to build on.

3)Learn how to use the knitting machine I'm getting soon,and I would like to learn to spin my own yarn.Maybe get a spinning wheel too.

[kawalekm]

2008. made our final land payment. Now own our land free and clear. Got the last of our orchard trees in the ground and finished our irrigation system. Installed the bathtub/shower so we can wash inside. Refinished an old WWII Mauser into a homestead hunting rifle.

2009. Get the wood stoves installed so we can heat and cook for free. Get the front porch constructed so we aren't stepping into dirt as we walk out of the cabin. Cut windows into the cabin walls to let in more natural light.

After that just little things like...

insulate the whole cabin,
install solar electricity,
fence the garden,
install propane appliances,
expand the garden to 1 acre
build a rainwater collection system
build a storage shed for vehicles and equipment.
pile two years of firewood
Michael

[shellrow1972]

Stocking up on food, saving as much money as I can and if all goes well, a trip to Mo. to look at a homestead. I will be debt free in 2009, YEAH!!!!!!!!


Good for you madmac! Way to go! I wish you much success!

[shellrow1972]

Shellrow: First, I'd like to say WELCOME! You will love it here!

1. 2008 was a year of changes. We got alot more poultry than the previous year (we have turkeys, geese, ducks, and chickens), got 50 black Angus cattle, I got 2 (hopefully preg dairy calves), and 3 more horses. I have more goats than in years past, more pigs than in past years, and am now down to 3 ewes, but no ram (but I'm working on it!).
I incubated out (and order some) more replacement hens for the older ones, and have fortified and now padlocked the hen houses to prevent a repeat of the loss of 50% of our hens due to theft this past year. *With the economy worsening, I fear that not only will the poultry be a target, but so will the cattle and also the food from the garden.
2. I canned some in '08, but not nearly as much as I'd wanted. Need to do better this year.
3. Hope to become alot more self-sufficient. We're not doing bad now, but there's always room for improvement.
4. Want a MUCH bigger garden, and am hoping my dairy calves are preg, and that each of them present me with healthy baby. Ditto with the goats in the spring.

3. 2008 financially was good, but with the economic downturn, 50% of our "promised" contracts have simply disappeared. So we will need to find ways to save $$ and will have to cut corners wherever humanly possible.
4. *Am hoping that the animals and the garden produce well, and that no one suffers too horribly from what's coming over the horizon. *I might not be doing everything I invision, but I'm thankful I don't live in the city any more, and don't live on a postage stamp lot with no way to feed myself!

I wish a VERY Happy (and prosperous) New Year to all!

Thank you for that warm welcome pcrowder! Sounds as if you are very busy. I hope that your dairy calves are pregnant! I would love to have enough room for all of that cattle!

[shellrow1972]

* Setting up a small BOB or BIB (Bug In Bag) and a small food storage program.

I really need to work on this more myself (the bob/bib). I do have a storage program going but I want to tweak it more this year by producing more of my own produce. Good luck!

[shellrow1972]

Lets see...
2008: Struggled to survive the chaos from my older sister's stroke, sold my horse because hay is just too expensive, didn't do as much with the garden as I wanted, but was pleased with what I did preserve out of it, daughter made quite a bit of $ at the local 4-H auction, so the pigs and lambs were a success, got more organized, started a refinance which was supposed to close by now and will help us greatly when it does, but due to FHA requirements, hasn't yet, and as I went to leave work this evening, my car wouldn't start, so left it at the office-will worry about it tomorrow!

2009: Want car problem to be minor, want refinance to close, get woodstove installed while it's early enough in year to use it, want to work more on being self-sufficient and pay off as much as possible, try to maintain a "at peace" attitude and get some chickens...

Happy New Year! Even tho I won't make it til midnight.



Its great about your success with the 4-H auction! I hope that things will work out for you very soon. Good luck with that car situation. I hope it is small and inexpensive!

[shellrow1972]

2008-Got serious about getting more self-reliant. Had to leave a gal who was just too frightened by the idea. Buckled down at work to make sure I was as valuable to the company as possible. Started to buy silver.
2009-Get house sold and move out of Cali. Buy some land, put a trailer on it and start homesteading. Invest in more gold and silver. Buy a rifle and handgun to go with my shotgun. Start to live the dream..... ;)

Good for you gregabob for getting out of the situation you were in! I know you cannot wait to get out of Cali. I wish you lots of luck with your venture!

[shellrow1972]

2008: *Dad died, retired from working at the prison, got first flock of chickens, DW fell and broke her elbow yesterday. *Chickens produced 229 eggs in December, averaging 7.3 eggs per day. *The most common number for the month was 8 eggs per day. *Put a dozen roosters in the freezer.

2009: *Buy our land! *Build temporary housing for me to continue working there. *50 freezer birds. *Set fence for goats/pigs scheduled for 2010.

LeatherneckPa, I am sorry to hear about your dad. I can't imagine losing a parent. I am sorry to hear that your wife broke her elbow. I know that has to hurt! I hope she recovers quickly with no problems. What are you doing with all of your eggs? How many birds in your flock and how long have you had them? I am wanting ours to grow up quicker to give us freezer camp material.

Good luck at finding and buying the land you want!

[shellrow1972]

Jan 13,2008,made final payment on debt management.What started out four years ago as more than $38K in debts was gone!!

July 5 2008,used "stimulus check" to pay off car.

Now owe less than 4k in debts,will be getting that out of the way as fast as possible.

Plans for 2009:

1)Pay off SSA thing(old debt of hubby's that popped up this year).Putting a quick stop to our house shopping.

2)Buy a house with some land,or just some land to build on.

3)Learn how to use the knitting machine I'm getting soon,and I would like to learn to spin my own yarn.Maybe get a spinning wheel too.



Good job at getting out of debt! It must feel like such a relief. I think that knitting and fiber production and spinning is going to be one of the projects I tackle in 2010. Keep me posted about your ventures!

[shellrow1972]

2008. made our final land payment. *Now own our land free and clear. *Got the last of our orchard trees in the ground and finished our irrigation system. *Installed the bathtub/shower so we can wash inside. *Refinished an old WWII Mauser into a homestead hunting rifle.

2009. *Get the wood stoves installed so we can heat and cook for free. *Get the front porch constructed so we aren't stepping into dirt as we walk out of the cabin. *Cut windows into the cabin walls to let in more natural light.

After that just little things like...

insulate the whole cabin,
install solar electricity,
fence the garden,
install propane appliances,
expand the garden to 1 acre
build a rainwater collection system
build a storage shed for vehicles and equipment.
pile two years of firewood
Michael

kawalekm I know you feel great about making that last payment! I would jump with joy and be on cloud nine for the entire year! What sort of fruit do you have in your orchard and how large is it? Do you have a pond that you are pumping the water from into your irrigation system? I want to expand on our rain barrels myself. The Old Farmers Almanac is calling for a humid but wet summer for us here in the south east. I still like to be prepared and have use the rain water on the gardens and for the duck pools. How large of a set up are you looking at?

[gregabob]

Good for you gregabob for getting out of the situation you were in! I know you cannot wait to get out of Cali. I wish you lots of luck with your venture!

Thanks shellrow! You're right, I can't wait to get out of this place! :)

[rideaway]

Hey, 2009 is off to a great start! Went to town, cleaned battery terminals, tightened connectors, hooked it up to the battery cables and car started right up! Yippee! I'm happy!

[gregabob]

Nice when the problem turns out to be minor, isn't it? :)

[rideaway]

Very nice-doesn't happen often enough, so I love it when it does...

[madmac]

Good for you madmac! Way to go! I wish you much success!
First, welcome to the forum, almost forgot my manners. Ten acres, that's a nice little spread. Kinda what I am hoping for myself. Anyway it sounds like you are going to have a busy 2009 as are a few others here. Let's pray for a good year. Mac

[farmmilkmama]

2008 - Regardless of simple lifestyle, got screwed by Countrywide, involved in nasty battle, ended up losing our house. Now sharing home with parents. (Was the future plan anyway, but they were supposed to be moving in with US on OUR land...) Anyhow...plans change. We will work through them and get back on track. Had a big garden, started drinking raw milk, lots of stuff that are so second nature right now I can't think of them...

2009 - I'm inheriting chickens in about week. Goats will soon follow. The six of us (my family, plus mom and dad) are always looking for that farm to move out to. Woodstove will be put in tomorrow. Boys will be learning woodworking and getting good with tools. Continuing to homeschool. Learning to make cheese. And soap. (But not together ;) ) Oh, and trying really hard to not be too bitter about all the "stupid people". That might be the hardest part. ;D

[kawalekm]

kawalekm I know you feel great about making that last payment! I would jump with joy and be on cloud nine for the entire year! What sort of fruit do you have in your orchard and how large is it? Do you have a pond that you are pumping the water from into your irrigation system? I want to expand on our rain barrels myself. The Old Farmers Almanac is calling for a humid but wet summer for us here in the south east. I still like to be prepared and have use the rain water on the gardens and for the duck pools. How large of a set up are you looking at?

Our orchard is about an acre in size now, with about 100 trees in the ground. I am blessed with a very rich, silty-loam soil that's 6-8 feet deep with 24" of topsoil. I have planted just about anything I think our zone 8 California climate will grow, apples, peaches, plums, cherries, apricots, pears, paw-paws, almonds, walnuts, pecans, pistachios, and chestnuts. The garden will eventually supply all of our vegetables, and we would also like to eventually even have a patch of corn and wheat. All of these get watered from a deep well powered by a gasoline generator. That's why I want the rainwater collection system, because no gasoline=no water for irrigation.

When I say collection system, I mean a really SERIOUS collection system. Something that will collect and store between 10,000 and 15,000 gallons of water. That should be attainable by plumbing the roofs of the cabin and storage shed. The neighbor owns a bulldozer and wants us to build a pond on our property. The pond won't be for irrigation because it would be a thousand feet away from the orchard, so it's just on my list of things to do in the future. It's a low priority project. I want our homestead to become as energy and water independent as quickly as possible, so we can relocate there if things go sour. Amenities can wait.

[EarthMama]

What about everyone else? How was '08 and what will be done in '09?

2008 was a horrible year for us. I was really happy to hang up the new calendar this year and throw 2008 away!

But it's all water under the bridge now and is already several miles away. :)

This year I'd like to really:

1. get into more bread baking.
2. spend less time online.
3. work in the yard more, especially planting more flowers.
4. build up my pantry more (but it sure is hard with the $$ situation being what it is).

That's all. Not too ambitious but enough, in my view.

[shellrow1972]

Hey, 2009 is off to a great start! *Went to town, cleaned battery terminals, tightened connectors, hooked it up to the battery cables and car started right up! *Yippee! *I'm happy!


That is terrific rideaway! I am happy for you. Your 2009 is starting off great!

[shellrow1972]

First, welcome to the forum, almost forgot my manners. Ten acres, that's a nice little spread. Kinda what I am hoping for myself. Anyway it sounds like you are going to have a busy 2009 as are a few others here. Let's pray for a good year. *Mac

Thank you for the welcome madmac. I do love our land! I am very fortunate to have partially visible neighbors only on one side. Two sides are fields and the front is full of full grown pine trees shielding our home from the other neighbor. I am very happy with it!

[shellrow1972]

2008 - Regardless of simple lifestyle, got screwed by Countrywide, involved in nasty battle, ended up losing our house. Now sharing home with parents. (Was the future plan anyway, but they were supposed to be moving in with US on OUR land...) Anyhow...plans change. We will work through them and get back on track. Had a big garden, started drinking raw milk, lots of stuff that are so second nature right now I can't think of them...

2009 - I'm inheriting chickens in about week. Goats will soon follow. The six of us *(my family, plus mom and dad) are always looking for that farm to move out to. Woodstove will be put in tomorrow. Boys will be learning woodworking and getting good with tools. Continuing to homeschool. Learning to make cheese. And soap. (But not together *;) ) Oh, and trying really hard to not be too bitter about all the "stupid people". That might be the hardest part. *;D


Sorry to hear about your grief with Countrywide. It sounds as if you are making alot of progress regardless! I wish you luck with your land hunt! I want to learn to make cheese and goats milk soap myself. I have made glycerine soap but I want to make the real thing! Keep working on it!

[shellrow1972]

Our orchard is about an acre in size now, with about 100 trees in the ground. *I am blessed with a very rich, silty-loam soil that's 6-8 feet deep with 24" of topsoil. *I have planted just about anything I think our zone 8 California climate will grow, apples, peaches, plums, cherries, apricots, pears, paw-paws, almonds, walnuts, pecans, pistachios, and chestnuts. *The garden will eventually supply all of our vegetables, and we would also like to eventually even have a patch of corn and wheat. *All of these get watered from a deep well powered by a gasoline generator. *That's why I want the rainwater collection system, because no gasoline=no water for irrigation. *

When I say collection system, I mean a really SERIOUS collection system. *Something that will collect and store between 10,000 and 15,000 gallons of water. *That should be attainable by plumbing the roofs of the cabin and storage shed. *The neighbor owns a bulldozer and wants us to build a pond on our property. *The pond won't be for irrigation because it would be a thousand feet away from the orchard, so it's just on my list of things to do in the future. *It's a low priority project. *I want our homestead to become as energy and water independent as quickly as possible, so we can relocate there if things go sour. *Amenities can wait.

Wow you have a great orchard started! I would love to have all of that variety planted myself as well. We have been looking though various fruit tree catalogues. With just the ten acres and not all of it cleared we will probably get dwarf trees here. Yes you are talking about a major water collection system. I just want ours to help with the watering of the garden and the soon to be fruit trees, vines, bushes!

[shellrow1972]

2008 was a horrible year for us. *I was really happy to hang up the new calendar this year and throw 2008 away!

But it's all water under the bridge now and is already several miles away. * :)

This year I'd like to really:

1. *get into more bread baking.
2. *spend less time online.
3. *work in the yard more, especially planting more flowers.
4. *build up my pantry more (but it sure is hard with the $$ situation being what it is).

That's all. *Not too ambitious but enough, in my view.


Number 2 is so hard to do! I think we could all use that one!